Buying Used Tools

Trying to make a long story short, my cousin has a large set of Snap-On Tools (I don't have the actual list) that he got when he was going to diesel mechanics school about ten years ago. His dad said it was about $25,000 then. Anyway, he doesn't think he's going to be doing that kind of work and would like to sell it. He had it listed for $10,000 and accepted an offer for $5,000, but that guy couldn't come up with the money. Now he's asking if I'd like to buy them. Being family, I don't want (or need) to work him too hard on price, but I also just have no idea what a set of used tools like that would be worth.

Also, an just a hobbyist car guy, it seems like a absolute ton of money. My friend rightly pointed out that it would be a pretty nice Miata, or a well used RX-8, or a trip to Le Mans, etc. On the other hand, it's probably the last set of tools I'd ever have to buy and they'd last a life time. I dunno, thinking about it.

Well, there might be a large portion of semi truck tools that really don't get used working on cars. You could either sell and recoup, or try to negotiate those out.

Also, don't discount the cost of having someone move the tools if you can't do it yourself.

Used Snap on tools tend to sell for 75% of their retail price on ebay or garagejournal.com. IMO there is no way you could go wrong with shelling out 5K for the set. You could most likely recoup the entire purchase price selling off what you won't need and be left with tools that will last the rest of your life.

Not to mention that $5000 can buy pretty much all the tools you'd probably ever need, new.

I'd go for it. I have a Snap-On roller cabinet and tools I bought used nearly 30 years ago, and I've never regretted the purchase.

Definitely buy them and sell of what you won't need. I buy used tools all the time, so there is a market for them. Come to think of it, only about a quarter of the snap-on tools that I own were purchased new. Most of those were odd balls that don't show up used often, and that were something that requires snap-on quality, like slim offset angle wrenches.

In reply to LainfordExpress:

PMed you.

SVreX wrote: In reply to LainfordExpress: PMed you.

Cool. How do I check a PM?

Edit: Nevermind, it showed up as an email. I couldn't find a place to read them on the website.

It's hard to go wrong with a bunch of Snap On tools. Do they come with a big Snap on tool box because that alone could account for 3000-4000 dollars new at the least. The idea of selling off the tools you don't need is a great way to recoup the cost.

It's got to be a decent set for $25,000. I agree with the group to go for it. Don't tell them you are selling off the pieces as families get hacked for weird reasons.

So, some clarity. Actually talked to the cousin in question, I think either his dad misremembered or maybe not the entire set is for sale, which is fine. The inventory he sent me, which isn't complete, comes to about $11,500, which is still a pretty good deal. Still thinking about it.

So if he is keeping some - is he keeping all the small stuff and selling you the heavy duty stuff?

This thread, like so many others, drove me to Craigslist to look for things to fuel my automotive hobby.

In reply to Brett_Murphy:

If Craigslist had a referral bonus, they wouldn't even need to publish a magazine. Just open it in a frame beside the forum with a few keywords pre-populated from the thread title.

LainfordExpress wrote: So, some clarity. Actually talked to the cousin in question, I think either his dad misremembered or maybe not the entire set is for sale, which is fine. The inventory he sent me, which isn't complete, comes to about $11,500, which is still a pretty good deal. Still thinking about it.

Something that often happens when people are selling tools is they price out what it would have cost to buy them individually, which is much more than what they actually paid for a set.

In reply to LainfordExpress: My Snap-on tools have served me well for decades.. I bought them decades ago and have watch the price go through the roof.. I had a pretty decent set of Craftsman tools (with a few odd balls thrown in) many of which I simply put in the boat and truck as spares.. I hate using the off brands like Craftsman, Mac, etc.. They work in a pinch but never fail to make me feel like a klutz. I strip fewer bolts/nuts etc. Don't get as many skinned knuckles or smashed fingers.. In short I'm a big fan of Snap-on

I've got a 20ft trailer full of tools I've been trying to sell for a friend after his brother pasted away.... Tired the craigslist no shows.... Garage journal here we come next week.

I agree. What you're actually getting is most important. Snap-On tools for less that 50% of cost sounds like a good deal... unless you're buying a bunch of specialized or heavy duty tools you'll never use.

For example, Snap-On 3/4" drive stuff is insanely expensive. And I'm sure it's worth it if you put food on the table using them. But personally, the $40 set I bought at Harbor Freight has done the job for handful of times I've needed them. I might be willing to pay $200 or so for Snap-on versions - just because - despite that being 4+ times the cost of the H-F tools. That is a small fraction of their original MSRP, but what they would be worth to me..